TWO of English football's fallen giants clash in a Carabao Cup tie on Wednesday when Sheffield Wednesday play host to Sunderland.
The Owls are now in League One and failed to get up last season in the play-offs. It's now been 23 years since they were in the Premier League and that drop in 2000 marked the end of an eight-year spell in the top flight.
Of course, Sunderland know all about life in the lower leagues after finally dragging themselves out of the third tier via the play-offs last season.
And what makes this a particularly spicy tie is that the Black Cats defeated Wednesday in those play-offs semi-finals last season 2-1 on aggregate thanks to an injury time goal from ex-Celtic winger Patrick Roberts.
This season, both sides have started reasonably well. Sunderland drew with Coventry and secured a 3-2 win at Bristol City in their two games in the Championship which will encourage Alex Neil, their manager.
And Wednesday followed up a home 3-3 draw with Portsmouth by winning 1-0 at MK Dons.
But there will be a sense of righting last season's wrongs for the hosts at Hillsborough.
How the bookies view it
Despite being in a lower league, Sheffield Wednesday are favourites here because of home advantage and possibly because of their motivation to gain revenge.
The hosts can be backed at 8/5 with William Hills, while the visitors are 9/5 with UniBet. The draw is 7/4 with bet365.
Recent head to heads
That play-off semi-final was high-octane stuff last season and here is the footage of Sunderland'sincredible last-gasp equaliser in Yorkshire in the second leg which saw them edge it 2-1 on aggregate.
The two other games last season saw Sunderland hammer Wednesday 5-0 at the Stadium of Light after they had previously lost 3-0 at Hillsborough.
Players to watch
Former Rangers midfielder Josh Windass saw a move to Argentina collapse in the summer. But he netted Wednesday's winning goals at Milton Keynes on Saturday and takes the penalties. He is 12/5 to net with Unibet.
Scotland striker Ross Stewart was Sunderland's hero last season and carried on where he left off with the winner at Ashton Gate on Saturday. He is 15/8 with Paddy Power to score on Wednesday.
Anything else catch the eye?
Wednesday will go hell for leather for revenge here, but the value may lie with an away win. Sunderland will be full of confidence after the start they have made to life in the Championship and they have firepower now with Stewart and former Hearts loanee Ellis Simms up front.
They have goals in the team and you have to think the outsiders tag is because they might not take the League Cup as seriously as the league.
But on the face of it they can win and they are also value for scoring two goals or more at 31/20 with UniBet, especially with home boss Darren Moore embarking on an entire defensive overhaul in the summer.
This EFL Cup match between Sheffield Wednesday and Sunderland will be played on Aug 10, 2022 and kick off at 19:45. Check below for our tipsters best Sheffield Wednesday vs Sunderland prediction. You may also visit our dedicated betting previews section for the most up to date previews.
